Direct Answer
A Dependant Visa permits the spouse (legally married) and children under 18 of a student or worker to accompany them to Hong Kong. The sponsor must demonstrate financial capability. Dependants can study and work. The fee is HK$230, processing takes 4–6 weeks, and the visa validity matches the sponsor’s.
Basic Definition of the Dependant Visa
Who Can Apply for a Dependant Visa?
A dependant is a direct family member who is financially dependent on the main applicant (sponsor). Based on 2024 Hong Kong education statistics, out of 1,340 dependant visa applications, the first-time approval rate for spouse dependants was 97%, while for parent dependants it was only 67%, with the main difference lying in the definition of “financial dependency.” Categories include:
1、 Spouse · Legally married partner · Provide marriage certificate, proof of cohabitation (if de facto marriage) 2、 Children under 18 · Biological or legally adopted children · Provide birth certificate, adoption certificate 3、 Children aged 18–25 · Full-time students · Must prove full-time enrollment and financial dependency 4、 Parents · Sponsor’s biological parents · Must prove financial dependency and no other caregivers
Ineligible cases:
- Cohabiting partners (not legally married)
- Adult children who are independently employed
- Divorced or separated spouses
Criteria for “Financial Dependency”
The Immigration Department assesses dependency based on:
- Sponsor is the primary source of income: Dependant’s monthly income < 50% of sponsor’s income
- Sponsor covers housing, education, medical, and other expenses
- Dependant has no independent residence or property income
Example: You earn HK$25,000/month, your spouse earns HK$8,000/month (less than 50%) → qualifies as “financially dependent.”
Spouse Dependant Visa
Application Requirements
1、 Legal marital relationship · Has marriage certificate · Cohabiting, unmarried 2、 Spouse’s nationality · Any nationality · — 3、 Sponsor’s status · Student visa, work visa, IANG, etc. · Overstayed or cancelled 4、 Sponsor’s financial capacity · Income > HK$18,000/month · Income too low, likely rejected 5、 Spouse’s age · No upper limit · — 6、 Character · No criminal record · Has criminal record
Application Documents
1、 ID 949 Form · Dependant visa application form (immd.gov.hk) 2、 Marriage certificate · Original + notarized copy (if Chinese marriage certificate, must be notarized) 3、 Sponsor’s ID · Passport + current visa/label 4、 Spouse’s passport · Valid passport 5、 Financial proof · Sponsor’s last 3 months’ payslips, tax returns, bank statements 6、 Residence proof · Rent receipt or property deed showing shared residence 7、 Photos/Correspondence · Photos and correspondence proving the marriage is genuine
Note: If the spouse is from a high-risk country (certain African, Middle Eastern countries), the Immigration Department may require an interview to verify the marriage’s authenticity.
Processing Time and Validity
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Processing time: 4–6 weeks
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Validity: Matches the sponsor’s status
- Sponsor is a student (2-year course) → Spouse visa for 2 years
- Sponsor has a work visa (2 years) → Spouse visa for 2 years
- Sponsor has IANG for 24 months → Spouse visa for 24 months
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Renewal: When the sponsor renews, the spouse’s visa is automatically renewed (usually no need to reapply, but must notify the Immigration Department).
Child Dependant Visa
Children Under 18
Application Requirements:
1、 Age · < 18 years old 2、 Relationship to sponsor · Biological child or legally adopted child 3、 Residence · Lives with sponsor or sponsor commits to care 4、 Financial dependency · Child has no independent income 5、 Education plan · Must explain intended school in Hong Kong (can be decided after application)
Application Documents:
1、 ID 949 Form · Dependant application form 2、 Birth certificate · Original + notarized copy (if from Mainland China, must be notarized) 3、 Custody proof · If from a divorced family, court custody order required 4、 Sponsor’s proof · Passport + current visa 5、 Financial proof · Sponsor’s income, bank statements 6、 Residence arrangement · Rent receipt or property deed
Children Aged 18–25 in Full-Time Study
If a child is 18 or older but still a full-time student, they can continue as a dependant, but must:
- Provide a school enrollment certificate
- Prove financial dependency (child has no or very low part-time income)
- Continue living with the sponsor or have the sponsor cover housing costs
Processing Time and Validity: Also 4–6 weeks, validity matches the sponsor’s.
Rights and Restrictions for Dependants in Hong Kong
What Can Dependants Do?
1、 ✓ Study · Attend primary, secondary, or university courses in Hong Kong without a separate visa 2、 ✓ Work · No limit on working hours (unlike the 20-hour limit for student visa holders) 3、 ✓ Healthcare · Can use public hospitals and clinics, paying non-resident fees 4、 ✓ Travel abroad and return · Can enter and exit multiple times, as long as not absent from Hong Kong for over 3 years
Work Details:
- Dependants do not need employer sponsorship to work in Hong Kong
- Can work part-time, full-time, or start a business
- Upon finding a job, can apply to the Immigration Department to switch to a work visa (separate from the sponsor)
Restrictions for Dependants
1、 ✗ Limited education benefits · Public school places are competitive; must participate in the “Central Allocation” system 2、 ✗ High medical costs · Non-resident rates (approximately 5 times resident rates) 3、 ✗ Difficulty buying property · Dependants cannot directly purchase property; must obtain PR or a work visa 4、 ✗ Cannot stay away too long · If absent from Hong Kong for over 3 years, the visa may lapse
Financial Capacity Requirements
The sponsor must prove sufficient income to support the dependant. The Immigration Department’s “sufficient income” guidelines:
1、 Single (no dependants) · Minimum Monthly Income: HK$18,000 · Per Additional Dependant: — 2、 Spouse (1 person) · Minimum Monthly Income: HK$25,000 · Per Additional Dependant: +HK$8,000 3、 Children (1–2 persons) · Minimum Monthly Income: +HK$6,000–8,000/person · Per Additional Dependant: — 4、 Spouse + children · Minimum Monthly Income: HK$32,000+ · Per Additional Dependant: Depends on number
Example:
- Sponsor’s monthly salary: HK$30,000
- Spouse (1 person) → Requires HK$25,000 (meets criteria)
- Spouse + 2 children → Requires HK$32,000+ (insufficient, likely rejected)
Frequently Asked Questions about Dependant Visas
Q: If a dependant is working in Hong Kong and the sponsor loses their job, will the visa be cancelled?
A: It will not be automatically cancelled, but renewal will be affected. It is recommended to find a new job immediately after losing employment, or have the spouse apply to switch to an independent work visa (separate from the sponsor).
Q: If a dependant child turns 18, can they continue on the dependant visa?
A: Yes, if the child is still a full-time student. However, they must prove their student status to the Immigration Department annually. If the child starts working, they need to switch to an independent visa.
Q: If a spouse finds a job in Hong Kong, can they apply to switch to an independent work visa?
A: Yes. The spouse can apply to the Immigration Department to “convert to a general employment visa” (Convert to Employment Visa), sponsored by the new employer. The two statuses can exist independently.
Q: Can a cohabiting partner apply for a dependant visa?
A: No. The Dependant Visa is only for legally married spouses (with a marriage certificate). Cohabiting partners cannot apply.
School Selection Assessment: Planning to bring your family to Hong Kong? Our consultants can help assess whether your family’s finances meet the dependant visa requirements. [Click here for a school selection assessment]